FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2001

HAWKS UNBEATEN STRING SNAPPED BY C.W. POST

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University suffered a defeat for the first time in 2001 as the Hawks dropped a 31-12 decision to C.W. Post in collegiate football action at Kessler Field in West Long Branch, N.J.

Monmouth (3-1, 3-0 Northeast Conference) had its five-game winning streak snapped as C.W. Post (6-0, 5-0 Northeast-10 Conference) capitalized on four Hawks’ turnovers.

The Pioneers’ Ian Smart, who entered the contest as the leading rusher on the NCAA Division II level, amassed 199 yards and one touchdown on 33 carries. Post also got a stellar performance from Frank Ingoglia, who completed 15-of-28 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

Post broke the scoring seal early in the contest as the Pioneers’ J.P. Rosselli intercepted a Bill Rankin pass on the opening drive of the game and returned the ball to the MU 8-yard line. A 3-yard run by Smart set up a 5-yard TD pass from Ingoglia to John Cipot to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with 12:52 left in the opening quarter.

Monmouth retaliated 10 minutes later as Rankin hit Chad Smith out of the backfield for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 2:01 left in the opening period, but Post retained a 7-6 lead as Ryan Peterson missed the point-after-touchdown attempt.

The Pioneers struck early in the second quarter as Ingoglia found Jeremiah Pope open deep and the two connected on a 45-yard TD pass 1:28 into the period to give Post a 14-6 lead.

Monmouth defensive back Michael Pitts forced a fumble by Smart and the Hawks recovered at the Post 36-yard line. On the next play Rankin hit Billy Lynn for a 36-yard TD pass. After a missed two-point conversion attempted, MU trailed 14-12 with 10:54 remaining until halftime.

Post added a 24-yard field goal by Tim Wagner with 12 second left in the half to take a 17-12 lead into the intermission.

After both offenses floundered in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Pioneers mounted an 11-play, 92-yard drive culminating in a 37-yard TD pass from Ingoglia to Ike Guobadia to give Post a 24-12 cushion with 2:02 left in the third quarter.

On the third play of the next drive, Steven Fischer intercepted a Rankin pass to set up the final score of the game. Smart scampered 42 yards on the next play to push the margin to 31-12.

Monmouth returns to Northeast Conference action next week as the Hawks travel to Loretto, Pa., for a 1 p.m. contest at St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday, October 13.